INTERNET RADIO V. SHORT-WAVE - IS SW DYING?

I am getting back into SW from a ten year absence. I will be
purchasing a new, nice quality radio, in the next few weeks. The
reason for my renewed interest is that I purchased a YB FR-200 for
Hurricane Charley. I forgot how I enjoyed SW. However, after surfing
the Internet for a wile, I was surprised (not really) to see limited
to no growth in SW receivers. My last Passport book is from 1995, and
I found that in 2004, the receivers from the 1995 book are the ones
still available, with few new entries.

It is obvious, the advent of the Internet in the last ten years has
changed drastically, the available of worldwide audio and video
programming. With that said, what is not available on the Internet,
that is available on SW? Let me preference by stating, that I
understand SW as a hobby, and I also understand that the challenge of
pulling in programming from a radio is a lot more rewarding than point
and click Real Audio or Windows Media streams. However, for fun, over
the last few days, I would find a signal/program on my little FR-200,
and then, I would find same streamed audio on the Internet. I had a
100% success rate, and the Internet stream is superior, as there is no
interference.

Maybe the FR-200 only pulls in the major stations, and that is why I
found everything, however, is there any worthwhile programming not
streamed live, or available as archive on the Internet. To further
tilt program availability on the Internet, there are hundreds of
websites that make available, professional model SW setups, that
Internet uses can directly control.

I understand that poor countries do not widely have access to the
Internet, but US access is far reaching. Will and/or have programmers
stop targeting the US by SW? So I ask, is SW dying a slow death? I
look forward to a nice discussion, Thurston Howell III

Thurston Howell III wrote:

INTERNET RADIO V. SHORT-WAVE - IS SW DYING?

I am getting back into SW from a ten year absence. I will be
purchasing a new, nice quality radio, in the next few weeks. The
reason for my renewed interest is that I purchased a YB FR-200 for
Hurricane Charley. I forgot how I enjoyed SW. However, after surfing
the Internet for a wile, I was surprised (not really) to see limited
to no growth in SW receivers. My last Passport book is from 1995, and
I found that in 2004, the receivers from the 1995 book are the ones
still available, with few new entries.

It is obvious, the advent of the Internet in the last ten years has
changed drastically, the available of worldwide audio and video
programming. With that said, what is not available on the Internet,
that is available on SW? Let me preference by stating, that I
understand SW as a hobby, and I also understand that the challenge of
pulling in programming from a radio is a lot more rewarding than point
and click Real Audio or Windows Media streams. However, for fun, over
the last few days, I would find a signal/program on my little FR-200,
and then, I would find same streamed audio on the Internet. I had a
100% success rate, and the Internet stream is superior, as there is no
interference.

Maybe the FR-200 only pulls in the major stations, and that is why I
found everything, however, is there any worthwhile programming not
streamed live, or available as archive on the Internet. To further
tilt program availability on the Internet, there are hundreds of
websites that make available, professional model SW setups, that
Internet uses can directly control.

I understand that poor countries do not widely have access to the
Internet, but US access is far reaching. Will and/or have programmers
stop targeting the US by SW? So I ask, is SW dying a slow death? I
look forward to a nice discussion, Thurston Howell III

I was first involved with this esoteric hobby back in 1966 or so, and as I
recall, there were folks back then who said that it was dying.

Guess what? It's still here and will be what you and I make it out to be.

dxAce

As long as there's something out there besides static crashes to tune in,
shortwave listening will never die.

jw
k9rzz

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 09:33:10 -0700, Thurston Howell III wrote:


I understand that poor countries do not widely have access to the
Internet, but US access is far reaching. Will and/or have programmers
stop targeting the US by SW? So I ask, is SW dying a slow death? I
look forward to a nice discussion, Thurston Howell III


No it's not. What happens when your cable,DSL or power goes down?

The BBC has stopped broadcasting via shortwave to North America but we
still pick it up through their other targets. This still ****es me off
personally.

There is a TON of things on shortwave radio. Get one and see for yourself!

Have fun!

Tom

"Thurston Howell III" wrote in message
om...
INTERNET RADIO V. SHORT-WAVE - IS SW DYING?

[snip]


I understand that poor countries do not widely have access to the
Internet, but US access is far reaching.


Traditional International broadcasting isn't dying, but it is declining.
The decline has practically nothing to do with the internet. The decline is
happening because:

Governments don't think shortwave gives them much for their money.

Mark Byford, or whoever, said as much when he said the BBC was targeting
opinion formers and decision makers. Putting international programming on
an internet feed will save some money on transmitter costs, but the cuts go
far further than that. Internet or not, programs are gone and languages are
gone. The governments which are cutting back don't think whatever listeners
they have are worth paying for. However, some broadcasters such as the BBC
and DW are able to sell programming to US broadcasters.




Will and/or have programmers
stop targeting the US by SW?


Some stop, others start. Governments may be losing interest in SW radio,
but there are people who actually WANT to be on SW radio. They WANT to be
on SW radio enough to pay to be on!! Sure, some of them may be con artists
or wierdos, but I find them to be a more interesting bunch then the usual
government radio types.



So I ask, is SW dying a slow death?


Things change. International broadcasting started as a way for countries
such as England or Holland to broadcast information to their people in their
colonies. The propaganda era ran from WW2 to the end of the Cold War. Now,
the Special Knowledge folk are ascendant.




I
look forward to a nice discussion, Thurston Howell III


Good luck!

Frank Dresser

(Thurston Howell III) wrote in message . com...
INTERNET RADIO V. SHORT-WAVE - IS SW DYING?

I am getting back into SW from a ten year absence. I will be
purchasing a new, nice quality radio, in the next few weeks. The
reason for my renewed interest is that I purchased a YB FR-200 for
Hurricane Charley. I forgot how I enjoyed SW. However, after surfing
the Internet for a wile, I was surprised (not really) to see limited
to no growth in SW receivers. My last Passport book is from 1995, and
I found that in 2004, the receivers from the 1995 book are the ones
still available, with few new entries.

It is obvious, the advent of the Internet in the last ten years has
changed drastically, the available of worldwide audio and video
programming. With that said, what is not available on the Internet,
that is available on SW? Let me preference by stating, that I
understand SW as a hobby, and I also understand that the challenge of
pulling in programming from a radio is a lot more rewarding than point
and click Real Audio or Windows Media streams. However, for fun, over
the last few days, I would find a signal/program on my little FR-200,
and then, I would find same streamed audio on the Internet. I had a
100% success rate, and the Internet stream is superior, as there is no
interference.

Maybe the FR-200 only pulls in the major stations, and that is why I
found everything, however, is there any worthwhile programming not
streamed live, or available as archive on the Internet. To further
tilt program availability on the Internet, there are hundreds of
websites that make available, professional model SW setups, that
Internet uses can directly control.

I understand that poor countries do not widely have access to the
Internet, but US access is far reaching. Will and/or have programmers
stop targeting the US by SW? So I ask, is SW dying a slow death? I
look forward to a nice discussion, Thurston Howell III

I see no reason to expect the internet to spell the end of SWL. Will
the internet be the end of newspapers? What about television? Why will
the internet ruin some media, but not others?

Remember back when people thought that television would spell the end
of the cinema? It's kinda like that...

Steve

"Thurston Howell III" wrote in message
om...
INTERNET RADIO V. SHORT-WAVE - IS SW DYING?

I am getting back into SW from a ten year absence. I will be
purchasing a new, nice quality radio, in the next few weeks. The
reason for my renewed interest is that I purchased a YB FR-200 for
Hurricane Charley. I forgot how I enjoyed SW. However, after surfing
the Internet for a wile, I was surprised (not really) to see limited
to no growth in SW receivers. My last Passport book is from 1995, and
I found that in 2004, the receivers from the 1995 book are the ones
still available, with few new entries.

It is obvious, the advent of the Internet in the last ten years has
changed drastically, the available of worldwide audio and video
programming. With that said, what is not available on the Internet,
that is available on SW? Let me preference by stating, that I
understand SW as a hobby, and I also understand that the challenge of
pulling in programming from a radio is a lot more rewarding than point
and click Real Audio or Windows Media streams. However, for fun, over
the last few days, I would find a signal/program on my little FR-200,
and then, I would find same streamed audio on the Internet. I had a
100% success rate, and the Internet stream is superior, as there is no
interference.

Maybe the FR-200 only pulls in the major stations, and that is why I
found everything, however, is there any worthwhile programming not
streamed live, or available as archive on the Internet. To further
tilt program availability on the Internet, there are hundreds of
websites that make available, professional model SW setups, that
Internet uses can directly control.

I understand that poor countries do not widely have access to the
Internet, but US access is far reaching. Will and/or have programmers
stop targeting the US by SW? So I ask, is SW dying a slow death? I
look forward to a nice discussion, Thurston Howell III

I don't think sw radio will ever be "dead". Some of the big broadcasters
have discontinued service in certain languages like English, but they still
transmit in other languages. Reason being, the entire world, especially the
third world is not yet wired up for the internet and probably wont be for an
indefinite amount of time. Also... Internet communications can be
administered and BLOCKED by governments. Although you can jam a shortwave
broadcast, you cant always be successful at jamming everything. So,
shortwave is still a great way to get information out to people that are
living under some lord high dictatorship.
Aside from that, as far as I know, there are new broadcasters getting into
the game all the time.

In the US, you also have an entire host of the "domestic" broadcasters that
want to be on shortwave regardless of the internet. They range from the
religious programs to the "conspiracy" guys to the "alternative news" guys.
I cant tell you how many of those "conspiracy" guys say... "keep your sw
radio handy 'cause the internet is going down" LOL. For the most part,
they are off the wall, but just as much fun as The Three Stooges. Sometimes
some of the "alternative" news guys actually have some good stories too.

So... There is indeed a decline of English service of major broadcasters,
but there is still and always will be PLENTY of stuff to listen to. Not to
mention...Hams, utility, Pirates....

I think the future of communication isn't the internet. IMO, I'd say in
twenty years or so, may be sooner... EVERYTHING is going to be wireless and
coming off of satellites. There will be a net of communication satellites
covering the Earth built by... say... Microsoft or some other huge company
that will handle... Television, radio, computer network, telephone... I
really think it is all going to be gobbled up by one company that will
become the world wide communications provider. They will be the phone
company, cable TV company and internet provider all built into one HUGE
institution. It sounds like science fiction stuff, but I think that is the
way things are going to go.

STILL... Even if everything does go wireless, you'll still have radio as a
back up for some communications in case of a huge x class flare comes along
and wipes out the satellite network....

So... again... sw radio will never be dead...

Michael

maria wrote:

Tom Randy wrote:

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 09:33:10 -0700, Thurston Howell III wrote:

I understand that poor countries do not widely have access to the
Internet, but US access is far reaching. Will and/or have programmers
stop targeting the US by SW? So I ask, is SW dying a slow death? I
look forward to a nice discussion, Thurston Howell III

No it's not. What happens when your cable,DSL or power goes down?

The BBC has stopped broadcasting via shortwave to North America but we
still pick it up through their other targets. This still ****es me off
personally.

There is a TON of things on shortwave radio. Get one and see for yourself!

Have fun!

Tom

Regarding your statement that BBC does not broadcast on shortwave to NA,
I have been listening to them almost every night clear as a bell on
5975, so the next time, i will see if they say world service or specify
another location. sure sounds like it is aimed here.

Yes, it may indeed sound that way, but they no longer 'specifically' target the
USA.

They target the 'Americas', but no longer the USA.

Indeed, it is still the 'BBC World Service'.

dxAce

Tom Randy wrote:

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 09:33:10 -0700, Thurston Howell III wrote:

I understand that poor countries do not widely have access to the
Internet, but US access is far reaching. Will and/or have programmers
stop targeting the US by SW? So I ask, is SW dying a slow death? I
look forward to a nice discussion, Thurston Howell III

No it's not. What happens when your cable,DSL or power goes down?

The BBC has stopped broadcasting via shortwave to North America but we
still pick it up through their other targets. This still ****es me off
personally.

There is a TON of things on shortwave radio. Get one and see for yourself!

Have fun!

Tom

Regarding your statement that BBC does not broadcast on shortwave to NA,
I have been listening to them almost every night clear as a bell on
5975, so the next time, i will see if they say world service or specify
another location. sure sounds like it is aimed here.
maria

sw won't die, but xm radio might give it a rub for it's money